# Waterproof felt hats?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-felt-hats/301706>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 29, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-felt-hats/301706 "2005-04-29T13:24:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-felt-hats/301706/1 "2005-04-29T13:24:22Z")

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I own a wool felt campaign hat my dad bought me in high school, and I was wondering if there was a way to determine if it was waterproof (other than running outside in a rainstorm with it, I mean)

Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-felt-hats/301706/2 "2005-04-29T13:25:49Z")

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Also, somewhat unrelated note, how the heck do I get this message board to show my signature by default?

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**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-felt-hats/301706/3 "2005-04-29T13:48:59Z")

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I’d guess, run it under the sink. If it beads the water up, it’s at least water resistant. If it truely doesn’t let water through, water proof.

-butler  
(to answer the unrelated note, you have to click the field on the bottom to show your sig, the etiquite is to post it once in a thread, and leave it off for all additional replies)

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-felt-hats/301706/4 "2005-04-29T13:52:32Z")

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I’m not aware of any wool felt that holds up well when wet, much less being waterproof. Nevertheless, it should be easy enough to test a portion of the brim, slowly pouring water on it and (I suspect) watching it drip through.

I would imagine that applying spray silicone, such as is sold for making tents water repellent, would be helpful.